Govt in process of building ‘safe’ nation: PM

KATHMADNU— Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is in the process of building a ‘safe’ nation.

In a message issued today morning on the occasion of the ’21st National Earthquake Safety Day’, he said “We are into a campaign to construct safe housing, school buildings and settlements. We will build all structures that are earthquake resilient.”

Referring to the devastating earthquake of April, 2015, PM Oli said the government has arranged for reconstructing safe settlements for the quake survivors that are residing in public lands. “The government has brought into effect the Integrated Working Procedure for Subsidised Credit 2018, through which those quake survivors unable to start reconstruction of their houses for want of adequate funds can seek for concessional loans up to Rs 300,000.

The process to provide additional Rs 50,000 grant and technical aid to those senior citizens and children affected by the quake to rebuild their earthquake resistant houses has started.”

In a bid to make reconstruction sustainable, local level has been handed resources and responsibility to reconstruct archaeological structures damaged by the quake, and ancient originality have been taken into account in the process, read the message.

Arrangements have been made to provide additional Rs 50,000 grant to rebuild six settlements in the Kathmandu Valley and outside in their original style. Province and local level has been equipped with enough resources and manpower to tackle natural disasters, he said in the message.

176 trafficked Nepalis rescued from Indo-Myanmar border

KATHMANDU — At least 176 Nepali men and women, who were being trafficked into Myanmar, have been rescued by Manipur police and activists from different parts of Manipur, a northeastern state of India, in the last two days.

On their second day of rescue operation, the Tengnoupal police have rescued atleast 20 Nepalis including 5 women and 15 men, from a Hotel in Moreh town,Imphal Free Press, an English-language daily published from Manipur has reported.

The Moreh police have rescued as many as 60 nationals of Nepal including 45 women and 15 men.